toocoldhere wrote:TheSmidge wrote:Tichtheid wrote:I just copied out the fixtures and was about to post them here, then I find that I've been beaten to the breakdown.
Not for the first time, I suppose.
The thing that strikes me first is that we played Leinster away in the season just finished, we should have them at home this year.
Yup, the Leinster fixture is a strange one. The only explanation is that they are goi to run the league without Saffers but can’t admit it yet for contractual reasons. That would also explain why, for the moment, they are maintaining the conferences.
They've already stated that there will be no SA participation in the coming season
No, that's not what has been said. They have stated that the SA clubs won't play in the 2020 calendar year, but that is not the same as saying they won't play in the 20-21 season. The statement earlier today said:
SA Rugby’s long-standing commitments are to field two teams in the Guinness PRO14 and in light of the withdrawal of the Southern Kings, discussions are on-going about fulfilling this agreement from 2021 using a replacement team from its current professional franchises.
In the article about Monday night games, it further confirms that:
As a result of travel restrictions to and from South Africa due to Covid-19 restrictions, the first 11 games of the upcoming Guinness PRO14 season will feature European-based teams only. Plans are in place for South African teams to resume playing in 2021, but they will not be able to play a full schedule.
With the pandemic conditions varying across each of our competing territories the full fixture list cannot be published at this point.
If the Saffers weren't playing in the coming season, there would be nothing to prevent them publishing a fixture list. Given they won't even know what clubs will be participating, then nothing can be finalised yet. I am certain, however, that Plan B is the 12 European clubs playing home-and-away with then play-offs between the top 4. They can't announce that unless and until SARU confirm that they will not be back until 21/22.